Iname, Life Aspect MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Legendary Creature — Spirit |
| Released | 2004-10-01 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Champions of Kamigawa |
| Set code | CHK |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 215 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Justin Sweet |
Key Takeaways
- Enhances card advantage and quickens resource access, pivotal for maintaining momentum during play.
- Its demand for specific mana and high casting cost may pose restrictions for deck integration.
- Boasts unique versatility and meta-relevance, making it an asset for Spirit-themed strategies.
Text of card
When Iname, Life Aspect is put into a graveyard from play, you may remove Iname, Life Aspect from the game. If you do, return any number of target Spirit cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Iname rejoices in the dawn of a new life, but soon becomes jealous of the simple joys denied him by his station. So the cycle begins anew.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Iname, Life Aspect is adept at offering card advantage as it allows players to potentially draw additional cards when its conditions are met. This aspect of the card can be a significant boon, especially in long, drawn-out matches where maintaining a healthy hand size is crucial.
Resource Acceleration: This card excels at resource acceleration, enabling players to access mana sources or other resources at a quicker pace. This can lead to a substantial lead in gameplay, allowing for earlier deployment of high-cost cards or the rapid execution of combo strategies.
Instant Speed: The ability to cast Iname, Life Aspect at instant speed provides a tactical advantage. It grants flexibility and surprise, allowing players to react in real-time to the evolving state of play. It can also be strategically retained in the hand until the most opportune moment, ensuring maximum impact on the game state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the hurdles of using Iname, Life Aspect is that it necessitates the discarding of another card. This could be a tactical setback, particularly in scenarios where your hand is already depleted or each card is critical to maintaining momentum in the game.
Specific Mana Cost: Iname, Life Aspect requires a specific blend of mana to cast, including both green and other colors. This mana requirement can sometimes be challenging to meet, especially in a multi-colored deck where mana resources are stretched across various needs, making it less flexible for just any deck type.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Deploying Iname, Life Aspect comes with a substantial mana investment. With a mana cost that’s on the higher end, it competes with other impactful cards in the same mana range which might offer more immediate game-changing effects. This cost factor is something that players need to weigh against their deck’s strategic goals and whether the investment aligns with their overall game plan.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Iname, Life Aspect offers a unique dynamic to any deck, able to serve as both an early defensive presence and a late-game resource. Its ability to transition from the battlefield to a reanimation enabler allows for strategic flexibility.
Combo Potential: The card’s secondary ability to shuffle itself from the graveyard into your library and return spirit cards with it sets up numerous combo opportunities. This can effectively capitalize on spirit or graveyard-based synergies in your deck.
Meta-Relevance: As the game environment often shifts towards creature-centric strategies, Iname, Life Aspect can hold significant value. Its spirit-recalling ability keeps pace with the demands of an evolving meta, ensuring your deck remains competitive.
How to Beat
In the nuanced game of MTG, coming up against Iname, Life Aspect can be quite the challenge. This fascinating card offers unique advantages for Spirit-focused decks, acting as a pivotal point for both deck manipulation and graveyard utility. However, there are strategies you can employ to counter this formidable creature.
One effective approach is to use graveyard hate cards such as Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt, which can exile Iname’s graveyard-targeting abilities, stifling your opponent’s strategy. Spot removal spells are also key; consider cards like Path to Exile or Go for the Throat to remove Iname before its ability triggers. Moreover, counter spells should not be underestimated; a well-timed Counterspell or Mana Leak can prevent Iname from ever hitting the field. Lastly, playing around Iname’s ability by keeping board presence to a minimum can minimize the impact of its ability, forcing your opponent to make suboptimal plays.
Understanding the tactics needed to undermine Iname’s strengths can give you an edge in the match, turning a potential obstacle into a stepping stone towards victory.
Cards like Iname, Life Aspect
In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Iname, Life Aspect is an intriguing option for players looking to utilize graveyard mechanics. It bears resemblance to cards like Golgari Thug, which also interacts with the graveyard by putting creature cards from your library into your graveyard. Iname, Life Aspect takes it a step further by allowing you to transfer any number of Spirit cards from your deck directly into the graveyard, setting up for potential combo plays.
Another card that echoes this graveyard strategy is Hermit Druid. While significantly different in application, Hermit Druid enables decks to put numerous cards into the graveyard, offering a similar setup strategy. However, unlike Iname, it does not offer the specificity of targeting a particular type like Spirits. Compared to Hermit Druid’s ability, Iname provides a more focused approach, advantageous for Spirit-themed decks that capitalize on synergy.
Given these comparisons, Iname, Life Aspect holds its own as a specialized tool in Magic: The Gathering, fitting neatly into Spirit-centered decks that benefit from its unique, selective graveyard-filling capability.
Cards similar to Iname, Life Aspect by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Iname, Life Aspect MTG card by a specific set like Champions of Kamigawa, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Iname, Life Aspect and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Iname, Life Aspect has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Iname, Life Aspect card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-12-01 | The targets of Iname, Life Aspect’s ability are chosen when the ability is put onto the stack, but you don’t choose whether to exile Iname, Life Aspect until the ability resolves. |
| 2004-12-01 | You can exile the card even if you choose no targets. |
| 2004-12-01 | You may target Iname, Life Aspect. However, this doesn’t do anything since the card will no longer be in your graveyard when the creature cards are returned to your hand. |
| 2013-04-15 | In a Commander game, you may send Iname to the Command Zone instead of exiling it during the resolution of its ability. If you do, its ability still works. Iname’s ability only requires that you attempted to exile it, not that it actually gets to the exile zone. This is similar to how destroying a creature (with, for example, Rest in Peace) doesn’t necessarily ensure that creature will end up in the graveyard; it just so happens that the action of exiling something and the exile zone both use the same word: “exile”. |
